Usman Sultan jailed for raping teenage girl in Keighley

Usman Sultan, 30, was a teenager himself when he raped the girl three times in 2009, encouraged on two occasions by others who laughed and egged him on.

READ MORE: Eight rapists hit with jail terms totalling 90 years after degrading sexual abuse of teenage girl

Sultan, of Lawkholme Lane, Keighley, today wept as Judge Andrew Hatton told him the underage child had been sexually exploited by many men.

She had been plied with drugs and alcohol, degraded and humiliated.

Her harrowing victim personal statement spoke of the deep psychological damage inflicted on her.

Sultan, who was sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds where he was remanded, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court last year of three counts of rape.

He is the eighth defendant to be sentenced following two trials involving the same complainant.

Today, prosecutor Kama Melly QC said Sultan raped the girl in a toilet, a park in Keighley and a car when he was aged 16 or 17.

She now suffered with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder after being sexually abused by Sultan and others after she was given alcohol and drugs.

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John Batchelor said in mitigation that Sultan still maintained his innocence. He said it was a case of mistaken identity.

He was working hard to support his family when he was arrested ‘out of the blue’ many years later.

Sultan had held down jobs at a takeaway and as a security guard, Mr Batchelor stated.

He was devastated by the shame the police investigation had brought on his respectable family, none of whom had ever been in trouble with the police.

He felt distressed, depressed and isolated, the court was told, and he had been on remand in prison for more than a year.

Judge Andrew Hatton told Sultan the girl had been groomed; plied with alcohol and sexually abused by young men.

Sultan first raped her in a toilet after grabbing her. She was crying and shouting ‘no’ while others laughed and encouraged him from outside the room.

He then met her in a park and raped her again. She had agreed to see him because she thought he liked her, Judge Hatton said.

The third offence happened when Sultan and others were in a car. He was encouraged to commit the rape by the males with him in the vehicle.

Judge Hatton said the victim’s impact statement made ‘harrowing reading.’ He told a weeping Sultan of the PTSD and grimly awful psychological damage that she now suffered.

Sultan had previous convictions for affray, a public order offence, and in 2014 he was jailed for an offence of violence, the judge stated.

He will serve two-thirds of the 12 years behind bars before he is freed on licence. He must sign on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

His co-accused in the trial have already been jailed.

Following that hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Weekes, of Bradford District Police said: “We welcome the sentences that have been handed down to these men today.

“Cases such as these are incredibly sensitive and complex and it often takes years of painstaking investigation to bring them before the courts.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the victim for coming forward and reporting these offences to the police, for her patience whilst the criminal investigation has been ongoing and her courage in giving evidence in court.

“The abuse she endured robbed her of her childhood and I hope seeing all of these men sent to prison today for these horrendous offences she was subjected to will allow her to start to look forward to the future.

“If anyone has suffered abuse or has concerns about someone who may be suffering abuse, I would urge them to come forward and speak to the police. We will listen to you and investigate all offences and also ensure you have access to any help or support you need.

“I hope this sends a clear message that regardless of how long ago these offences may have happened we will pursue every avenue to get justice.”